With the NFL draft a week away, a look at the rugged AFC North
The NFL Draft is a couple of weeks away. However, that does not mean we can divulge into some early power rankings in the AFC North. All four teams in the division found ways to improve their team this offseason. Whether it’s small moves or big moves, teams looked for ways to get better.
1. Baltimore Ravens: (2023 record 13-4, lost in AFC Championship game vs Kansas City Chiefs)
Why I have them here: The defending division champions remaining at the top spot was a no-brainer. Despite losing key players on both sides of the ball as well as key coaches it’s hard to put another team above Baltimore. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is still there as well as their head coach John Harbaugh. Adding Derrick Henry to the running back room was a solid addition. Retaining defensive tackle Justin Madubuike was key considering the going rate for defensive tackles on the open market. Despite the key losses on both sides of the ball, Baltimore is still the best team in the AFC North until proven otherwise.
How this team can improve: Speaking of key losses, let’s discuss. Baltimore was one of the best defenses in the league last year but the chances that the core players would’ve been retained was always a slim possibility. Linebacker Patrick Queen joined the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers, same goes for safety Geno Stone going to the Cincinnati Bengals. After a form of a re-birth, defensive end Jadeveon Clowney decided to head to the Carolina Panthers after spending a year with Baltimore.
Offensively, the Ravens will have to replace three starters on their offensive line. Finding a right tackle opposite of Ronnie Stanley is important as well as finding a true X receiver for Jackson.
Concerns surrounding this team: Whenever you lose a ton of talent on both sides of the ball, it’s always a question of how are you going to replace the talent. Baltimore has done a solid job in developing the players that they draft and it usually turns out well but there is always a sense of concern regarding the players they selected and how their development is going.
2. Cleveland Browns (2023 record: 11-6, lost in Wild Card Round vs Houston Texans)
Why I have them here: Debated on who to put here between Cleveland and Cincinnati but I chose Cleveland. Outside of a couple of moves, Cleveland had a productive offseason. Trading for wide receiver Jerry Jeudy from the Denver Broncos for essentially nothing was a solid move. Jeudy isn’t a bonafide star but he’s someone that can benefit from a change of scenery. Offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey comes over after being let go from the Buffalo Bills and helps bring in a new face on the offensive side of the ball. The running back room received a bit of a face-lift with the signings of Nyheim Hines and D’onta Foreman.
Retaining key players on the defensive side of the ball such as defensive end Za’Darius Smith, Maurice Hurst and Shelby Harris are key in terms of continuity. If at full strength, this team arguably has the best roster in their division.
How this team can improve: On the offensive side of the ball, It wouldn’t hurt Cleveland to look into adding another running back or wide receiver. In terms of running backs the team could draft Notre Dame RB Audric Estime or University of Tennessee RB Jaylen Wright comes to mind. As far as the wide receiver room goes, Oregon WR Troy Franklin, Florida State WR Keon Coleman and Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley are names to watch. Don’t be surprised if the Browns look at the offensive lineman.
Defensively, they will have to replace Sione Takitaki and Anthony Walker after losing the two in free agency. The interior defensive line could also be addressed.
Concerns surrounding this team: Quarterback. It’s the only concern that’s valid at the time. Deshaun Watson hasn’t fallen off a cliff in terms of his play but he needs to play well consistently for this team to achieve the goals they want. Watson is on track for starting Week 1 and it appears that he is throwing the ball after recovering from shoulder surgery. Time will tell.
3. Cincinnati Bengals (2023 record: 9-8 missed playoffs)
Why I have them here: The Cincinnati Bengals made lateral moves this offseason to improve their team. The team is better than what they were last year if you were to look at their roster. Safety Geno Stone is an upgrade in the safety room, right tackle Trent Brown comes over to replace Jonah Williams and tight end Mike Gesicki is a reliable target in the passing game for quarterback Joe Burrow.
Cincinnati didn’t make any splashy moves but the moves that they made were improvements considering where the team was last year. There are some questions in regard to wide receiver Tee Higgins whether or not he will be on the team when training camp starts later this year.
This team is still a playoff contender in the loaded AFC.
How this team can improve: The interior defensive line of the Bengals needs to be addressed. D.J. Reader is in Detroit and Sheldon Rankins is a solid replacement but he is nowhere near the impactful player that Reader is. The wide receiver room has a bit of uncertainty considering the Higgins situation and Tyler Boyd still a free agent.
Their cornerback room lacks a true number one after Chidobe Awuzie signed in Tennessee. Addressing those needs will do wonders.
Concerns surrounding this team: The health of Burrow can’t be brushed aside at this point. He’s played two full seasons since being drafted by the Bengals. Burrow is arguably a top 5 quarterback in this league but he needs to stay on the field and Cincinnati needs to do a better job of protecting him.
If there is one side of the ball I would be concerned with, it would be the defense. The safety play should be better but the cornerback room lacks a true number one corner and the interior defensive line needs to be addressed after losing Reader.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (2023 Record: 10-7, lost in the Wild Card vs Buffalo Bills)
Why I have them here: Regardless of the moves that Pittsburgh made this offseason, this is still the 4th best team in the division. The quarterback room last season was atrocious for Pittsburgh and the offense in and of itself was a mess. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is an upgrade over Matt Canada (not hard to be).
As far as the quarterback room goes, it’s a room filled with uncertainty. Quarterback Russell Wilson is not the same quarterback he once was and trading for Justin Fields doesn’t make much sense for this year.
Queen is an upgrade in the linebacker room for Pittsburgh and safety Deshon Elliott helps in the backend.
How this team can improve: The wide receiver room is not great after the team traded away Diontae Johnson to the Panthers. The Steelers can develop wide receivers as we saw with George Pickens so it shouldn’t be a tall task for them. The offensive line needs to be addressed, mainly at the tackle spot and adding another cornerback opposite of Joey Porter Jr wouldn’t hurt.
Concerns surrounding this team: Despite what people will say about the Steelers and their quarterback room, it is still a question mark as a whole. Despite what the stats say, Wilson has not been a great quarterback. Sure, he’s better than what Pittsburgh had last year but that’s not saying a lot. The reason why Denver chose to cut Wilson is because head coach Sean Payton got the most out of him but it wasn’t enough which led to Denver cutting ties and eating one of the biggest cap hits in the league.
As far as Fields goes, trading for him only to become the backup for Russ was a bad idea. Fields needs to get reps at this point of his career, sitting on the bench does him no favors at this point. It feels like Pittsburgh is doing a coin-flip when it comes to the quarterback position and that’s not a good thing.
Which rankings do you agree with? Which do you disagree with?
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